Last year, Ryan Dempster pitched in 34 games (all starts) for the Cubbies and he was 15-12 with a 3.85 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. With that in mind, the Cubs were expecting similar results in 2011, but that just hasn’t been the case. Dempster has pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 10-11 with a 4.74 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Dempster is likely going to be back in 2012 for the Cubs as he is very likely to exercise a player option. With that in mind, the Cubs hope that Dempster turns around next year as he didn’t pitch too well for them in 2011.

The Cubs thought they could depend on 28-year old righty starting pitcher Randy Wells in 2011. After all, Wells pitched in 62 games (all starts) in his first three years with the Cubs and he was 20-24 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. This year though, he has flat out stunk up the place. Wells has pitched in 14 games (all starts) for the Cubs so far this year and he is 3-4 with a 6.05 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. He has given up 92 hits (15 homers) in his first 77 2/3 innings pitched while also walking 31 batters. Wells has been one of he most disappointing Cubs in a very disappointing season.

33-year old righty starting pitcher Ryan Dempster has been a very solid starting pitcher for the Cubs the last few years. But, this year has been different as batters have been running up to the plate against him so far in 2011. Dempster has started 6 games for the Cubs this year and he is 1-3 with a 9.58 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. Dempster has given up 42 hits and he has walked 16 batters so far this year in only 31 innings pitched. He has whiffed 29 batters so far, so maybe he will be able to turn things around soon. The Cubs are depending on Dempster, so they need him to step up soon.

28-year old righty starting pitcher burst onto the scene for the Cubbies in 2009. He started 27 games for the Cubs last season and he was 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP seemingly out of nowhere. The Cubs penciled him into this year’s starting rotation but he has not looked like the same pitcher he was in 2009. Wells has started 29 games for the Cubs this year and he is 6-13 with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He will likely have to earn a spot in the Cubs’ rotation during spring training in 2011.

The Chicago Cubs have replaced Ted Lilly in the starting rotation with 29-year old righty Carlos Zambrano. The Cubs hope that Zambrano finishes the 2010 season strong so that they can trade him over the winter. Zambrano has pitched in 26 games (10 starts) for the Cubs this year and he is 3-6 with a 5.46 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Big Z has allowed 79 hits and he has walked 36 batters in only 64 1/3 innings this season for the Cubs. But, he has also struck out 60 batters so I think his troubles are in his head right now. He still has the talent to excel as long as he can get motivated and stay focused like he has until this year in his career.